Plate whirler



Oct. 9, 1945. J. 'r. CAMPBELL 2,336,591

PLATE WHIRLER.

1 Film; March 22; 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTbR.

- JAMES Z'CflN/PBEAL.

' BY I Oct. 9,.1945. J. T. CAMPBELL PLATE WHIRLER Filed March 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Y IITZVIPIYEY Patented Oct. 9, 1945 :PLATEWHIRLER Q. James L Campbell, Detroit, Mich. i A ppIic-ation March 22,1944, Serial No. 527,593 1 I 6 Claims. (01. 91-42) j This invention relates to photo mechanical plate. whirlers and more' particularly to a device for rotating a photo mechanical or printing plate upon whicha light sensitive coating or emulsion is evenly distributed and dried before 1111'. posing thereon the image for the purpose of reproduction and, for performingcthis operation under proper conditions by mechanical means. I

Albumen, glue, or shellac, .when mixed with chromic salt and dried areafiected by the action ,of light. All the above materials and many others react in a more or'less similar manner and are used for one or another of the various photoreproductionprocesses. 1 3 e This reaction, which in some ways resembles the tanning of leather, is observed when a suitable surface is coated with one of the above solutions mixed with gammoniumbichromate; On exposure to a suitable light sourcethe coating light, depending on thickness of coating and bichromate content before the maximum effect is reached; The same effect however takes place in making it diflicult to remove, the unexposed porrapidly undergoes a change. It becomes tanned, .1

total darkness'and is due to spontaneous reac- I tion which takesplace in the absencejof light, butnow becomes a matter of :hours before a state of complete insolubility is .reached. Should partial exposure even to weak lightoccu'r before im-.

posing of image the reaction will continue slowly to completion in total darkness, but more rapidly than in-thesprevious instance when the coating was not exposed to light; This previous reaction is the direct. causefiof difficult development and imperfect prints.

If handled properlyfany of the bichromated solutions should develop out quickly and clean. But theyshould'not be exposed, even for a short time, to ordinary light or to any light emitting ultra-violet or blue rays when preparing and handling.

Most lithograph plate whirlers are equipped withelectric space heaters'installed directly in the chamber, withoutmeans of dissipating the damp air from the chamber. gardless of the amount of heat generated, the airinthejchamber retains a very high percentage of humidity, owing to the continual dampness within the chamber and this humidity is detri- In this case, re-

mental to the proper processing of the coated plate. I v

,-In whirling plates for photo-enlarging, most whirlers are now designed to whirl the plate face down and over an exposed gas-or open electric heater. Both ofthese heat sources emit sufiicient effective light rays to partly tan the entire bichromated surface during the whirling process tions when developing.

By using the presntdevicenone of these difiicultiesis experienced asthe electricheat source is ,baffled so that no light rays can reach the plate.

The air is pulled through the air filter over the heating elements and down on to the center and across theplate in all directions, and back under and out the bottom of the whirler. As the clean dry air is at all times moving across the plate it is quickly and evenly dried and, moisture is eliminated inside the iwhirler. The plateis totally enclosed during the whirling process.

As the plate is whirled face up it may be coated in the whirler at slow speed and when completely covered the speed is increased for drying This effects a saving of the solution over the conventional method now used for coating plates.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a closed light-tight cylindrical container for the plate whirler in order to prevent apre-exposure of the sensitized plate .obtained therein.

It is the further objectof this invention to provide means for supplying a flow of filtered preheated air, through the plate whirler forobtain- 'ing'a substantiallylow humidity therein, as an aid in drying the sensitized whirled plate, and further as an aid in preventingpremature action of the sensitized surface.

It is the further object of this invention to provide suitable means for housing the filtering and air heating mechanism togetherv with baflie means for preventing any light from said heating means reaching the sensitized surface.

It is the further object. of, this invention to provide operative mechanism for rotating the drawings of which 7 Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned elevational view of the photographic plate whirler.

' Fig. 2'is a top plan view thereof with the cylindrical whirler housing removed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely a preferable embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope thereof as hereafter set out.

In the drawings the plate whirler consists of the supporting mechanism substantially triangular in shape including the three vertical? legs ll, I2 and I3, interconnected respectively by the cross beams l4, l5 and Hi.

The hollow plate whirler housing 11, cylindrical in shape, is provisioned upon said support-* ing mechanism and suitably secured thereto. Said housing has hingedly secured. thereto: at [9 the manually pivotal cover I8,v with a suitable handle 20 provided for raising and lowering said cover as shown in Fig. 1. 3

Hood 2|, substantially rectangular in shape, is provisioned upon cover l8 with the interior space 22 in communication with the interior. of the whirler housing through opening 23- formed within cover I8. The outer open end 24 of said hood has provisioned therein suitable filters 2.5 through which air is' drawn to the. interior 22' of hood 2'] and the interior of the plate whirler housing I1.

Electrical heating elements 26 are provisioned within hood 2| depending from the top. interior surface. thereof, as well as oppositely extending laterally inward from the sides of said hood. The upwardly angularly arranged baflie 21 secured to cover l8 within hood 21' extends partially over air opening 23, acting, as a shield in preventing light or illumination. from heating elements 26 from entering the interior of the plate whirler housing.

A. secondary bafile 28 forming a part of cover [8 is. angularly bent downwardly therefrom. for projecting heated air currentsupon the top. surface of the rotatable photographic plate. 29. upon which a light sensitive liquid; has. been.- placed to be. evenly. distributed. and dried thereon. A..suit.- able suction. blower 3.0. is provisioned. upon the under surface. of container. I1. registering with air opening 3| therein for drawing the. air down through hood 2], air opening, 23,,upon rotatable photographic plate; 29, and around. the same, finally withdrawing the. air through openin 3| in the bottom of container 11. Thus. it is seen thatpre-heated filtered air is drawn into thecylindrical chamber [1, directed upon. the photographic, plate, projected outward radially over its entire surface and. thence. withdrawn from the container through air opening 3|. thereby providing a continuous streamof evenly distributed air over the photographic surface. to be dried.

The excess bi-chromated or. other. solution drops from. theplate: 2.9 as it isrotated. and. ac cumulates within; the bottom. of container L1. A suitable drain-32 is, positionedwithin. the bottom thereof for'subsequent'disposal of such accumulated fluids;

The water inlet connection. is shown at. 33 on plate whirler container. Ll, with a swivel water controLv-alve34 connectedthereto for. supplying fluid tOt ther arcuate pipe 35. Said: pipe. is;- perforatedi at. spaced. intervals 36: in thewbottom thereof for supplying an even. spray of. fluid either upon. the top: surface. of: the photographic plate, or for washing, down theinterior: sides of container H. Water-isturned onmerely'by outwardly manually pivoting pipe 35 aboutitspivotal control valve 34.

It will be noted that cover 18 has downwardly depending sides 31 which extend, when the cover is closed, over the vertical side edges of container ll, so that when closed, all light is eliminated from the interior of the whirler chamber for the purposes hereinabove set out.

Cover I8 is resiliently maintained closed by the coiled springs 38 on opposite sides thereof with one of their ends anchored at 39 to the whirler housing IT andwith the other of their ends secured at 40 to the opposite extending ends of cross bar 4| secured on cover l8. As shown in Fig. 1, in closed position of cover I8 the line of 7 spring 38 between points 39 and 40 is to one side of the hinged connection I9 of the cover so that said spring acts as an aid in closing and maintaining the same closed.

On opening cover l8, as soon as the line between points 39 and 40 crosses the hinged connection l9 said spring aids in opening cover l8 and maintaining the same in open position permitting access to the interior of whirler; housing IT for inserting or removing photographic plate 29' or pouring, thereon the light sensitized solution to be distributed and dried thereon.

As shown in the drawings, the platform 42- is supported. by cross beams l4, l5 and Hi, upon which is housed and supported the operative mechanism for the plate whirler; Electric motor 43 with drive pulley 44 is joined by belt 45 to the variable speed: pulley transmission 45 which is rotatably journaled' at 4'I'upon the movable'frame 4'8.

Said frame is itself adjustably andpivotally supported and joined at its lower ends at 49 to the platform 42. The upper end of frame 48 is pivotally joined at 50 to the manually reciprocabl'e shaft 5|" the outer end of which is slidably supported by stirrup- 52 on leg l'-l. Thus manual adjustment horizontally of shaft 5 1 willresult in different angular positions of the transmission frame4'8.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3' said transmission carriesrotatably thereon the two" pulleys 5'3 and 54 which consists ofthe two' outer-pulley wheels 55 and 55 journaled' on adjustable shaft- 41 and the single pulley wheel 58: rotatably provisioned on saidshaftbut adapted to-sliding movement'thereon relative'to the outer pulleys 55 and 55. Thus it is seen that movement to the left' of pulley 58 will increase the operative diameter of pulley 53 at the same time decreasing. the operative diameter'ofpulley 54. On the other hand movement to the: right of pulley- 58 will increase the operative diameter of pulley 54;. at the same time: decrease the operative diameter: of pulley 53.v

I-n operation, with. shaft 51"ma-nually' moved to theleft the frame 48 for the transmission is translated downwardly inFig. Znecessarily decreasing the operative diameter of pulley 54', causing pulley wheel 58110. move to the: leftawhich effects an inincrease in the operative diameter "of. pulley 53 which is joined: by belt 45. By this adjustment a decrease in speed: of movement is obtained in pulley 53 resulting in a. decrease of speed of belt 59 joined to pulley 54.

On the other hand a manual translation of shaft. 5.l ='to the right effects a clockwise pivotal movement of transmission; frame; 48: to: the-right in Fig. 1, and upwardlyinFig. 2. This resultsin decreasing the operative diameter. of pulley 53 and increasing the operative: diameter of. pulley 54. in turn increasing. translatory movement of belt.59..

A power transmitting pulley 60 carried by shaft thereto.

' above description itis seen that air is drawn into 'fil' onstandards 6| on platform'42 is rotated by hood 2| through filters 25, by means of the sucbelt 59' from pulley 54 on variable speed transmission 46. Pulley 60 rotatably joumaled: on shaft 6| carries therewith-the smaller rotatable pulley '62 which interconnects the horizontal power drive pulley 53 bya belt 64. iVerticalfrota'tableshaft 65 joined to pulley 63 and rotated thereby has an end' bearing support ,66 provisioned upon platform 42 with the upper end of shaft 65 projecting through 'a corresponding'opening within the vertical upright standard -61 also carried on platform 42. Said rotatable shaft extending upwardly through opening68 in visioned annular flanges l and 12 slidably and frictionally engaging each other. Idler clutch member 1| annularly flanged at T3 is adapted to rotatably carry photographic plate 29 which is to be whirled for evenly spreading and dryingthereon the light sensitive solution centrally applied Said clutch has a central transverse opening 14 within which rotatable shaft 65 is provisioned loosely, thereby providing a loose journal for idler H, and at the same time maintaining its annular operative flanged portion 12 in sliding engagement with the upwardly extending :gmularly flanged portion of rotatable clutch Inasmuch as it is desirable that plate 29 be started and stopped gradually to effect an even distribution of the light sensitive fluid substance over its top surface, it is necessary that its supporting idler clutch be free moving and adapted to rotation independent of the moment of starting or stopping of clutch 69. Consequently in the first instance clutch 69 will begin rotation with the friction built up between flanges l0 and 12 gradually effecting movement of idler clutch H until after a short period both clutch members are rotating at the same speed. Likewise when clutch 69 is stopped by stopping of motor 43, idler clutch 1| will continue to rotate with plate 29 thereon gradually slowing down until it stops by virtue of the friction between the opposed flanged opening at its central portion.

A timer switch is indicated at 15 inserted within leg l2 for regulating and setting the interval of rotation desired for the photographic plate 29. A heater switch 16 carried also on leg I2 is electrically connected to'timer 15 as well as electric heating elements 26' within hood 2|. Said timer switch is adapted to automatically actuate said electrical heaters for a limited interval of rotation of plate 29 or on the other hand said heaters may be actuated separately by switch 16.

As shown in Fig. l a curved auxiliary cover 11 is provided upon and in spaced relation to hood 2| being secured thereto at points 18 and 19, thereby providing insulating means in the event that the hood itself becomes hot from the operation of the electrical heaters therein. From the tion blower 30 at the bottom of housing l1, preheated by heaters 26 and directed through opening 23 in cover I8 to the control top portion of the photographic plate 29.

By virtue of the rotation of plate 29 said-air on engaging the same is directed radially in all directions over'the entire surface of the photographic plate for evenly drying the solution which is evenly distributed over the surface thereof by virtue of the uniform rotation of idler clutch ll. Said air swirls over the surface of plate 29, traveling around the outer periphery thereof and thence below said plate into the annular retainer 74' and through air opening 3| which joins suction blower 30.

Not only is an even distribution of air effected within plate whirler housing I! but also the humidity therein is minimized, which is advantageous in preserving the sensitivity of the coated photographic plate. The plate is further protected from outside light by virtue of the sealing arrangement of cover l8, as well as by baflie member 21 within hood 2| which prevents any illumination whatever from heaters 26, from reaching the light sensitive surface of the rotatable photographic plate 29.

Having described my invention reference should now be had to. the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

I claim: 7

1. A plate whirler comprising a hollow closeable housing, a freely rotatable plate holder joumaled therein having an annular flange on the bottom thereof, rotatable means extending into said housing and loosely into said holder providing a journal therefor, and clutch means on said rotatable means having a corresponding annular flange frictionally engageable with said first annular flange.

2. A plate whirler comprising a hollow closeable housing, a freely rotatable plate holder journaled therein having an annular flange on the bottom thereof, rotatable means extending into said housing and into said holder, and clutch means on said rotatable means having a corresponding annular flange frictionally engageable with said first annular flange, said rotatable means extending above said clutch means to act as a loose journal for said plate holder.

3. A photographic plate whirler comprising a hollow closeable housing, a freely rotatable plate holder joumaled therein having an annular flange on the bottom thereof, rotatable means extending into said housing and loosely into said holder providing a journal therefor, clutch means on said rotatable means having a corresponding annular flange frictionally engageable with said first annular flange, air intake means on said housing communicating with the interior thereof, suction means below said housing communicating with the interior thereof, air preheating means provisioned within said intake means, bafile means in said intake means intermediate said heating means and the interior of said housing, air filtering means in said intake means, and water springling means provisioned within the top portion of said housing.

4. A plate whirler comprising a hollow closeable housing, a freely rotatable plate holder journaled therein having an annular flange on the bottom thereof, rotatable means extending into said housing and loosely into said holder providing a journalithe'refor, clut'cl'izme'ans om said rotatable means having: a: corresponding annular flange frictionally engageable? with said first annular flange, and a rotatable power source joined to said: rotatable means.

5. A plate whirler comprising a hollow closeablehousing, a freely rotatable plate holder journaled: therein having an annular flange on the bottom thereof, rota-table means extendinginto said housing and looselyinto said holder providing ajournal therefor, clutch means-onv said rotatable-means having a corresponding annular flange" frictionally engageable with said first annular flange, a rotatable power source joined to said rotatable means, and a manually operable speed control transmission interconnected between said rotatable means and said power source.

' 6. A; photographic? plate whirler: comprising a hollow closeable housing, a freely rotatable plate holder journaled therein having an annular flange on the bottom. thereof, rotatable means extending into said housing and loosely into said holder providing a journal therefor, clutch'means on. said rotatable means having a: corresponding annular flange frictiona-lly engageable with said first annular. flange, air intake means on said housing communicating; with the interior thereof, suction means below said housing communicating with'the interior thereofltair preheating means provisioned within saidintake means, bafiie means in said, intake means intermediate said heating means. and the interior of said housing, and air filtering means in said intake: means.

JAMES T. CAMPBELL. 

